Jalpaiguri, Feb. 18: The Ekramia Isale Sawab (religious meeting) on the 60th death anniversary of Hazrat Sham Sheikh Ekramuddin Haque, a Muslim saint popularly known as Huzur Sahib started at Haldibari in Cooch Behar today.

The seven-day fair, organised by the Mela Organising Committee, attracts devotees from different districts of north Bengal, Northeastern states, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Devotees from all faiths — Hindus, Christians and Buddhists — join the Muslims to pray at the mazaar (shrine) of Hujur Sahib. “Like every year, this time too people have assembled from different parts of the country at the fair that is the pride of Haldibari. It is a symbol of communal harmony. We have made elaborate arrangements on the mela ground.”

Camel sellers can also be seen at the fair, which is a centre for animal trading. “I have been coming here for the past five years. This year I have brought 16 camels and have already sold three on the first day,” said Liaquat Ali who has come from Pushkar in Rajasthan.

The mela draws huge crowds of Bangladeshis from districts like Bogura, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Maimensingh.

Among them is Fazlul Haque, the great grandson of Huzur Sahib. “He was my great grandfather. Though we live in Bangladesh, we visit the fair every year. He was a great saint. For many of us, who want to come here to pray, the problem lies in getting funds to apply for visa and comply with other government regulations. The government of India should think about this,” he said.

Faith alone does not make the fair attractive for those across the border. The stalls on the mela ground are equally alluring. “They are always in search of Indian stuff that they can take back home,” a stall-owner said.